Inclined-plane venetian-blind installation

ABSTRACT

A building wall inclines to the vertical and has a window opening therein which is provided with a Venetian blind. The general plane of the window opening inclines similarly to the inclination of the wall, and the plane of the ladder-and-slat assembly of the blind is inclined to correspond with the inclination of the window opening.

United States Patent 1191 9 Debs 1 June 25, 1974 15 INCLlNED-PLANE VENETIAN-BLIND 1,752,610 4/1930 McSpadden 160/84 INSTALLATION 2,328,305 8/1943 Stefano 160/172 2,654,425 10/1953 Ha ner 160/172 Inventor: Victor Debs, Staten Island, 2,860,699 11/1958 Br un 160/173 [73] Assigneez Levolor Lorentzen, Inc. Hoboken 3,425,479 2/1969 Lorentzen et a1 160/176 NJ. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [22] Filed; Nov, 22, 1971 699,431 11/1953 Great Britain 160/172 [211 Appl' 20l040 Primary Examiner-Peter M. Cnun Related US. Application Data Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Charles F. Chisholm [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 829,069, May 29,

1969, Pat. No. 3,721,285. 57 ABSTRACT 52 US. (:1. 160/168 160/172 A building Wall, inclines the vertical and has a [51] Int. Cl E66b 9/305 dow Opening therein which is provided with a Vane [58] Field of Search 160/84 168-178 b1ind- The general Plane of the Window Opening inclines similarly to the inclination of the wall, and the [56] References Cited plane of the ladder-and-slat assembly of the blind is inclined to correspond with the inclination of the win- UNITED STATES PATENTS dow Opening 1,022,415 4/1912 Hannam 160/172 1,121,022 12/1914 Klassig 160/168 10 Claims, 21 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJUNZSIBN SHEET 1 0F 4 INVENTOR V/c TOR DEBS ATTORNEY I,

PATENTED 3.818.969

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VICTOR DEBS MKM ATT RNEY INCLINED-PLANE VENETIAN-BLIND INSTALLATION PRIOR PATENT APPLICATION The present application is a continuation-in-part of my prior application Ser. No. 829,069 filed May 29, 1969, now US. Pat. 3,721,285.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Dormer constructions and the like have been used frequently when providing a window opening in an inclined building-wall. With these constructions the general plane of the window opening is vertical, despite the inclination of the building wall. The general plane of the window opening being vertical, a Venetian blind can be provided at the window opening in the conventional manner. I

A saving in building cost can be effected and other advantages be achieved by eliminating dorrnerlike constructions and allowing the general plane of the window opening to incline similarly to the inclination of the wall. For such an inclined window-opening, a conventional Venetian-blind installation is unsuitable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The building wall inclines to the vertical and the general plane of the window opening inclines similarly to the inclination of the building wall. A Venetian blind is mounted at the window opening, and means are provided to incline the general plane of the ladder-and-slat assembly of the blind to correspond with the general plane of the window opening. Such means includes a fixedly-positioned and fixedly-inclined tensioned wire, fastened top and bottom, which passes downwardly through holes in the slats that are elongated transversely of the slats. A ladder of the ladder-and-slat assembly may be aligned, front to rear, with the tensioned wire. Ordinarily there will be at least two such tensioned wires one toward each end of the slats and, when desired, closely adjacent to the ends of the slats and to the associated jamb of the window opening. Depending upon the length of the slats, one or more additional tensioned-wires may be provided at intervening locations along the length of the slats. Typically, there may be a single intervening wire which is at the center of the blind and with which a ladder of the ladder-andslat assembly is aligned front to rear, whether or not ladders are aligned with the end wires.

In accordance with a feature of the invention one or more of the tensioned wires may be fastened at the top to the head of the blind, as by being secured to a tilt-rod cradle which is part of the head and is on the interior thereof. In accordance with another feature of the invention the lower margin of the ladder-and-slat assembly is a bottom bar that is provided with through openings in alignment with and corresponding to the wirereceiving holes in the slats, which wire-receiving holes in the slats may be lift-cord holes; and the tensioned wires pass through these openings in the bottom bar as well as passing through the aforesaid holes in the slats. In accordance with a further feature of the invention the bottom bar may be equipped with one or more ladder caps which have through openings in alignment with and corresponding to the aforesaid through openings in the bottom bar, and tensioned wires pass through the through openings in the ladder caps. In accordance with a still further feature of the invention each tensioned wire passes through an anchor that is secured to the building structure below the bottom of the blind, and the bottom end of the wire is provided with an abutment that transmits the tensioning force from the anchor to the wire.

In accordance with additional features of the invention: The head of the blind is mounted on installation brackets that are affixed to the building structure adjacent to each side of the window opening, and the top ends of fixedly-positioned and fixedly-inclined tensioned wires are secured to the installation brackets. Each installation bracket is provided with a keyhole slot which affords entry of the associated wire into the slot, and removal therefrom, with an abutment affixed to the top end of the wire. The end of the head of the blind engages such wire-attached abutment and blocks removal of the wire from the keyhole slot while the head is in mounted position. The anchor to which the bottom end of the tensioned wire is attached may be adjustable to adjust the tension of the wire, such adjustment being either by movement of the anchor as a whole or by movement of one part of the anchor relative to another part. Movement of one part of the anchor relative to another part is preferably provided by an adjustable and lockable threaded stem that mates with a building-attached part of the anchor.

The presently preferred Venetian-blind installations, taken collectively, include all of the foregoing features and afford additional features and aspects that will be apparent from the drawing and the description in connection therewith. As regards all of the same, it is left to the user to select from alternative features and to decide upon the omission of any feature or aspect that is not needed for his particular purpose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING, OF WHICH THERE ARE FOUR SHEETS Except for adjustment of reference characters, FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8 are identical, respectively, with FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8 of my aforesaid prior application Serial No. 829,069.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing a Venetian-blind installation in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a largely-diagrammatic vertical section, on a larger scale, taken generally on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1. This vertical section is composed of upper and lower portions with the intervening portion broken out. For clarity, and to fit the view to the sheet, the upper portion of FIG. 2 is shown aligned with the lower portion rather than being displaced to the right thereof.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing how the top end of a wire that is to be tensioned may be attached to the head of the blind on the interior of the head.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the attachment of one of the ladders and the associated lift cord to the bottom bar, and showing an associated tensioned wire passing through the bottom bar.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section of the lower portion of the ladder-and-slat assembly. The showing is the same as in FIG. 2 except that the ladder cap is shown in section, rather than in elevation as in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a detail view illustrating a step that may be used in preparing the bottom end of the wire for attachment to the window sill.

FIG. 7 is a detail view similar to FIG. 6 illustrating the next step that may be used in preparing the bottom end of the wire for attachment to the window sill.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view, largely diagrammatic, showing the bottom end of a tensioned wire attached to the window sill.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a modified anchor, which may be used in lieu of the anchor shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, for attaching the bottom end of a tensioned wire to the window sill.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a second modified anchor, which may be used in lieu of the anchor shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, for attaching the bottom end of a tensioned wire to the window sill.

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing a second Venetian-blind installation in accordance with the present invention. The view is an elevation, with parts of the blind broken away, looking from the room side of the blind and looking perpendicular to the general plane of the ladder-and-slat assembly of the blind.

FIG. 12 is a largely-diagrammatic vertical section, on a larger scale, taken generally on the line 12-12 of FIG. 11 and showing the inclination to the vertical of the general plane of the ladder-and-slat assembly. This vertical section is composed of upper and lower portions with the intervening portion broken out. For clarity, and to fit the view to the sheet, the upper portion of FIG. 12 is shown aligned with the lower portion rather than being displaced to the right thereof.

FIG. 13 is a partly-diagrammatic perspective view showing how the top end of a wire may be attached to an installation bracket which supports one end of the head of the blind.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing how the bottom end of a wire may be attached to the window sill with the use of a fourth form of anchor, the anchor that is shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a largely-diagrammatic vertical section corresponding to FIG. 12 but showing the blind mounted at the window opening without being nested within the window opening and showing a different anchor for attaching the bottom end of the tensioned wire to the building structure.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the anchor that is shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a top plan view of a modified anchor that may be substituted for the anchor shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.

FIG. 18 is a section taken on the line 18-18 of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 shows how the end of the head of the blind blocks disengagement of the top end of the associated tensioned wire from the installation bracket which supports the end of the head. The view is a fragmentary and largely-diagrammatic elevation, with the keeper of the installation bracket omitted, looking from the room side of the blind and looking perpendicularly to the general plane of the ladder-and-slat assembly of the blind.

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary perspective view, similar to FIG. 3, showing another way in which the top end of a wire for tensioning may be attached to the head of the blind.

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary sectional elevation, looking perpendicularly to the front wall of the head of the blind, showing the completion of the fastening of the top end of the wire to the head in the manner indicated in FIG. 20.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY-PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION The drawing shows the presently-preferred embodiments of the invention, i.e., the best modes thus far contemplated of carrying out the invention. Except as may be otherwise indicated, the description hereinafter (prior to the claims) refers only to the particular forms of the invention that are shown in the drawing. Nevertheless, the disclosure is by way of illustration and example; the claims embrace other specific forrns in which the invention may be embodied.

FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically the corner of a room having a floor 1, a ceiling 2, an outer building-wall 3, and a wall 4 which may be either a wall within the building or an outer wall of the building. The floor 1 and the ceiling 2 are horizontal, and the wall 4 is vertical. The wall 3 is inclined to the vertical, by about l5 as is best seen in FIG. 2. As is seen in FIG. 1, the wall 3 overlies a portion of the floor that is adjacent to it. The wall 3 is formed with a window opening 5, which has a top face 6 and a bottom face or sill 7. The lengths of the faces 6 and 7 extend horizontally. However, each of the faces 6 and 7is an inclined plane that is perpendicular to the face of the wall 3, as is seen in FIG. 2. The sides of the window opening 5 are jamb faces 8 and 9 which are vertical planes, but the lengths of which incline similarly to the inclination of the wall 3. The general plane of the window opening itself is inclined similarly to the inclination of the wall 3, i.e., at about 15 to the vertical.

The building structure which provides the faces 6, 7, 8 and 9 may be plaster, concrete, wood or other suitable material. Some or all of these faces may be on wooden members which are parts of the main building structure, or are parts of a window frame that is incorporated in the building structure.

The outside of the window opening is provided with suitable framing and glazing, shown diagrammatically at 10 and 11 in FIG. 2. The glazing may be sealed shut or may be arranged for openingand closing, using constructions that are known in the art pertaining to windows.

A Venetian blind is customarily mounted at a window opening in one or the other of two locations with respect to the window opening, viz., nested within the window opening or extending across the window opening without being nested within the window opening. In FIGS. 1 and 2 the Venetian blind, which is designated as a whole by B, is mounted at the window opening 5, being nested within the window opening. As will become apparent, many specific forms of Venetian blinds are suitable for the blind B. The particular Venetian blind shown in the drawing has the construction that is disclosed in H. K. Lorentzen et al, US. Pat. No. 3,425,479 issued Feb. 4, 1969, the cradle-and-lift-cord organization of the blind being also disclosed in H. K. borentzen et al, US. Pat. No. 3,447,585 issued June 3, 1969. The bottom bar and the attachments thereto shown in the drawing, and also the bottom-bar laddercap shown in the drawing, are disclosed in H. K. Lo-

rentzen et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,485,286 issued Dec. 23,

The Venetian blind B includes a ladder-and-slat assembly that is designated as a whole by 15, this assembly being suspended from a head which is designated as a whole by 16. The ladder-and-slat assembly includes a series of slats 17 that are supported and articulated together in known manner by two or more ladders 18, one of which is shown in FIG. 2. The ladder 18 has front sidepiece 18a and rear sidepiece 18b, the two sidepieces being interconnected by vertically-spaced crosspieces or rungs 180 on which the slats 17 rest. The ladder shown is of the string type, the sidepieces 18a and 18b being braided cords and each crosspiece 180 being a plurality of filaments which may be braided or twisted into one or more strands. The head 16 consists primarily of a sheet-metal channel 23 and the mechanism that is contained therein, viz: cradles, a tilt rod, rockers or drums to which the upper ends of the ladder sidepieces 18a and 18b are connected, tilting mechanism to oscillate the tilt rod and rockers, cord guides for the lift cords, and a cord lock to hold the raised or partially raised bottom bar of the blind in adjusted position all as is well known in the art.

At the bottom of the ladder-and-slat assembly 15 there is a bottom bar. The bottom bar, which is designated as a whole by 40, is a bar such as the bottom bar 40 that is disclosed in H. K. Lorentzen et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,485,286; and the lower ends of the ladder sidepieces 18a and 18b are attached to the bottom bar in the manner disclosed in that patent. In that patent the lower ends of the ladder sidepieces are attached to the bottom bar by means of sheet-metal fittings (sometimes called barbs) which are the same as the fittings or barbs 75,75 shown in FIG. 4 hereof. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,485,286 the bottom wall 41 of the bottom bar 40 has three holes that are aligned from front to rear, viz., a front hole, a rear hole and a midpoint hole. The barbs 75,75 of that patent are inserted upwardly through the front and rear holes; the lift cord of that patent passes downwardly through the midpoint hole and is then brought back to the interior of the bottom bar through a longitudinally offset hole, being knotted on the interior of the bottom bar to complete the attachment of the lift cord to the bottom bar. In the Venetian blind B the ladder sidepieces 18a and 18b and the lift cord 22 are attached to the bottom bar 40 in the same manner as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,485,286 even through in blind B the three aligned holes of the bottom bar of U.S. Pat. No. 3,485,286 are replaced by the single slot 410 that is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 hereof. The front end of the slot 41a corresponds with the front hole of U.S. Pat. No. 3,485,286, the rear end of slot 41a corresponds with the rear hole of U.S. Pat. No. 3,485,286, and the midpoint of slot 41a corresponds with the midpoint hole of U.S. Pat. No. 3,485,286. The barbs 75,75 are inserted upwardly through the ends of the slot 41a and, once inserted, attach the ladder sidepieces 18a and 18b to the bottom bar in the same manner as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,485,286. The lift cord 22 passes downwardly at the midpoint of the slot 41a and is attached to the bottom bar 40 in the same manner as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,485,286.

For each ladder 18 of the Venetian blind B the bottom bar 40 is provided with a plastic ladder-cap, designated as a whole by 20, which is in vertical alignment with the ladder, i.e., the center of the ladder cap is in the plane of the ladder. Except for slotting of the ladder cap, or at least the ladder caps through which tensioned wires are to pass, the ladder caps 21) hereof are the same as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,485,286; and they are attached to the bottom bar in the same manner as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,485,286.

Each ladder cap for the two ladders 18 shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a transverse slot 20a (FIG. 5) that is midway between the ends of the ladder cap. This slot 20a isnt seen in FIG. 2 because, to better show the ladder cap in FIG. 2, the ladder cap is there shown in end elevation even though the general plane of FIG. 2

passes midway between the ends of the ladder cap. The ladder-cap slot 20a is of the same width and length as the bottom-bar slot 41a and registers therewith. The slots 20a and 41a are in alignment with, and correspond to, the super-imposed tier of slots 17a that constitute lift-cord holes in the slats 17. The lift-cord holes have a width (lengthwise of the slats 17) which is greater than the thickness of the lift cord 22 and, to afford tilting of the slats in an amount that is normal for a Venetian blind, the lift-cord holes 117a have a length (transversely of the slats 17) which is very much greater than the thickness of the lift cord 22. Thus there is ample space for the tensioned wire 50, hereinafter referred to, to pass through the lift-cord holes 17a along with the lift cords 22. The slot 41a in the bottom bar (FIGS. 4 and 5) and the slot 200 in the ladder cap (FIG. 5) afford ample space for the passage of the tensioned wire 50 through the bottom bar and ladder cap for attachment of the wire to the building structure beneath the ladder-and-slat assembly of the blind (FIGS. 2 and 8).

A tensioned wire 50 is provided in conjunction with the lift cord 22 at each of the two ladders 18 that are shown in FIG. 1, these ladders being toward the ends of the blind (i.e., toward the jamb-adjacent ends of the blind), as is shown in FIG. 1. Additional wires 50 may be provided at intervening ladders and lift cords if any be added to blind B. As regards each of the wires 50 of blind B (see FIGS. 1-8) the arrangement of the wire and the steps taken in connection with it are the same. Therefore, the description and explanation hereinafter in connection with the wire 50 that is toward one end of the blind B will apply to the wire 50 that is toward the other end of the blind, and will apply also to intervening wire or wires 50 if any intervening wires be added to blind B.

As wire for the wire 50, stainless-steel spring-wire having a diameter of approximately 0.025 inch has been used. For wire 50 a piece has been cut which is excessively long as compared to the extended height of the ladder-and-slat assembly 15 of the blind B. The top end of the wire 50 is fastened to the head of blind B, and the bottom end of the tensioned wire is fastened to the building structure beneath the ladder-and-slat assembly 15 of the blind B the wire passing through the lift-cord holes 17a in the slats, through the slot 41a in the bottom bar, and through the slot 20a in the ladder cap. The pair of wires 50, one toward each end of the blind, are the heart of the means which inclines the general plane of the ladder-and-slat assembly 15 to correspond with the general plane of the window opening, as will more fully appear.

Mounted within the head 16 as a part of the same there is a tilt-rod cradle which is designated as a whole by 26. The base 26a of the cradle (FIG. 3) is against the bottom of the head channel 23 and is provided with a central hole 26h which registers with a hole (not shown) in the bottom of the head channel to afford vertical passage of the lift cord as shown in FIG. 3. The metal surrounding the hole 26h in the base of the eradle is embossed at 261' in the manner shown in L- rentzen US. Pat. No. 2,872,976; this provides a smooth bearing-surface for the lift cord 22, which comes up through the hole 26h and then proceeds horizontally to a cord lock at the end of the head 16. The wire 50 passes upwardly tothe interior of the head 16 along with the lift cord 22 and is fastened to the head by being secured to the vertical leg 26b of the cradle 26. The leg 26b is provided with a small hole 26: through which the wire 50 passes and, beyond the leg, the wire is provided with an abutment 500 which engages the leg 26b and prevents withdrawal of the wire 50. When the wire is tensioned the abutment transmits the tensioning force between the cradle 26 and the wire 50.

The abutment 50a may be any suitable abutment that can be attached conveniently to the wire 50. A type of abutment that has been used for similar purposes is a metal cylinder that is pierced axially for the passage of the wire and is provided with a radial set-screw that makes clamping engagement with the wire. It is preferred to use a small-bore seamless copper-sleeve which is telescoped onto the wire and then clinched with a plierlike tool of the type used by electricians in crimping small sleeves for making solderless electrical connections between wires or between a wire and a terminal that is provided with a sheet-metal sleeve. The sleeve-abutment 50a is affixed to the top end of the wire 50, i.e., to the end portion of the wire. When crimping the sleeve into holding engagement with the wire a 3/ l 6 inch protruding length 5011 of the wire is left for bending back against the sleeve as is seen in FIG. 3. This provides the wire 50 with a bight which securely holds the sleeve-abutment 50a against slippage when the wire is tensioned.

Each of the excessively long wires 50 can be placed in the blind B and fastened to the head 16 before the blind is mounted, the wire being left to dangle beneath the bottom bar 40 while the blind is being mounted. The order of steps in placing the wire in the blind may be varied at pleasure. The abutment 50a (FIG. 3) may be attached to the wire, after which the wire may be threaded through the holes 26! and 2611 in the cradle, then through the lift-cord holes 17a in the slats, and thence through the slots 41a and 20a in the bottom bar and ladder cap. In the alternative, the wire 50 may be threaded upwardly through the ladder cap and bottom bar, thence through the slats, and thence through the holes 26h and 26: in the cradle after which the abutment 50a is affixed. A second alternative is to begin at the upper slat of the blind, thread the bottom end of the wire downwardly through the ladder-and-slat assembly, thread the top end of the wire through the holes 26h and 26! in the cradle, and then affix the abutment 50a to the top end of the wire.

The blind B is mounted on a pair of suitable installation brackets, various specific forms of suitable brackets being known. For mounting the blind B within the window opening 5, the installation brackets are secured against the jamb faces 8 and 9 adjacent to the tops thereof. Each installation bracket has a flangelike shelf on which one end of the head channel 23 rests, and each bracket also has a keeper or other suitable means for preventing fortuitous disengaging movement of the end of the head channel. FIG. 2 shows the installation bracket, designated as a whole by 60, which is secured against the jamb face 9; the fastening screws are omitted. The installation brackets and their attachment to the building are conventional except that, as shown in FIG. 2, the bracket is rotatively displaced so that the flange or shelf 60a on which the end of the head channel rests is inclined to the horizontal by an amount which is equal to the inclination of the wall 3 to the vertical. However, this gives the installation bracket the same position relative to the wall 3 that it would have if the wall were vertical. The installation bracket which is affixed against the face of jamb 8 for supporting the other end of the head 16 is the same as the bracket 60 but of opposite hand.

With the head of the blind B in place on the installation brackets and the excessively long wires dangling below the bottom bar 40, each wire 50 will reach below the front corner 7a (FIG. 2) of the bottom face or sill of the window opening. Each wire 50 is to be tensioned and the bottom end thereof attached to the window sill at a predetermined location which will place the wires 50, taken together, in a plane that inclines similarly to the inclination of the general plane of the window opening; at the same time each individual wire 50 is to be in a vertical plane which is perpendicular to the general plane of the window opening. Such predetermined location for the wire 50 shown in FIG. 2 is at the center of the bore 7b in the window sill. The attachment of the bottom end of the wire to the building is to be by means of an abutment attached to the wire and a co-operating anchor that is attached to the building, the anchor being adapted to maintain wire-tensioning pressure on the wire-attached abutment, and the wire-attached abutment transmitting the tensioning force between the anchor and the wire. In FIGS. 2, 6, 7 and 8 the anchor for attachment to the building is a flat metal-plate 65 which is provided with a central hole 65a for passage of the wire 50 and provided with countersunk holes 65b,65b to receive screws 66,66 (FIG. 8) for securing the plate 65 to the sill 7 and drawing the plate against the sill to establish and maintain the desired tension on the wire. For engagement by the plate 65, the wire 50 is to be provided with a fixed abutment 50d which will be the same as the abutment 50a at the top of the wire.

The head of the blind B having been mounted on the installation brackets with each wire 50 dangling below the bottom bar 40, the plate 65 may be telescoped onto the wire and a seamless copper sleeve be telescoped onto the wire beneath the plate 65. The sleeve is to form the wire-attached abutment 50d at the bottom end of the wire; and the abutment 50d is to be in such spaced relation to the head of the blind that, with the wire cut off below the abutment and the abutment 50d nested within the bore 7b and pulled down by plate 65 and screws 66,66, the wire 50 will be sufficiently tensioned for satisfactory inclining of the plane of the ladder-and-slat assembly to correspond with the general plane of the window opening. The correct spacing from the head of the blind for the abutment 50d may be determined by the method disclosed in said prior application Ser. No. 829,069, now US. Pat. 3,721,285. An alternative procedure is to tension the wire manually and measure the wire distance between the head of the blind and the sill of the window. This will give the correct location for the top of the abutment 50d. In the case of difficulty in locating the abutment 50d at precisely the correct spacing from the head of the blind, the abutment may be attached a little high on the wire and, if necessary, one or more shims be used under plate 65 to afford the desired tension on the wire without overtensioning it. One shim 67 is shown in FIG. 2.

With the sleeve for the bottom abutment correctly positioned along the length of the excessively long wire, the sleeve is firmly crimped to form the fixed abutment 50d which is the same as the abutment 50a at the top of the wire. The wire 50 is now cut off below the abutment 50d, leaving a 3/16 inch protruding length 50e (FIG. 6) which is bent back upon the abutment 50d as shown in FIG. 7 to form a bight which prevents the possibility of the abutment slipping under the tensioning pressure that will be applied by the plate 65. The abutment 50d (see FIG. 7) is now swung into alignment with the bore 7b and the screws 66,66 inserted to attach the bottom end of the wire 50 to the window sill as shown in FIGS. 2 and 8.. If the sill is of wood, suitable wood screws may be used. For sills of other material, suitable known fastenings are used to fasten the plate 65. A common arrangement where the sill is of concrete or masonry construction is to use wood screws but first embed a suitable expansible screw-receiving plug into the building structure of the sill.

When the plate 65 is provided with the hole 65a as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the plate must be placed on the wire 50 before the abutment 50d is placed on the wire. However the plate or other anchor may be provided with a slot which extends to the edge or with a keyhole slot, thereby enabling the plate or other anchor to be applied to the wire 50 after the abutment 50d has been affixed to the wire. For platelike anchor 65 there may be substituted platelike anchor L (FIG. 9) which has a slot La extending to the edge and has fastenerreceiving holes Lb,Lb. Or for platelike anchor 65 there may be substituted platelike anchor M (FIG. 10) which has a keyhole slot Ma and has fastener-receiving holes Mb,Mb.

The tensioned wires 50 incline the plane of the ladder-and-slat assembly of the blind B to correspond with the inclination of the general plane of the window opening, as is perhaps best seen in FIG. 2. The lift cord 22 and the lift-cord holes 17a are in alignment with the ladder 18 as viewed from front to rear of the ladderand-slat assembly 15; and the wire 50 blends with the lift cord and ladder and is substantially invisible when the blind is fully lowered. The blind can be raised and lowered in normal manner and can be opened and closed in normal manner. When the blind is raised, the

wires 50 are exposed below the bottom bar 40, but they are of such small diameter that they are relatively inconspicuous. The slat-holes through which the tensioned wires pass have a diameter transversely of the slats which permits tilting of the slats in the amount that is normal to a Venetian blind.

The only required modifications of the known blind chosen for illustration as blind B hereof are the provision of means for attaching the wires 50 to the head of the blind and the provision of slot-like through openings in the bottom bar and ladder caps for the passage of the wires therethrough. Various other specific Venetian blinds may be similarly modified for use in the present invention.

' FIGS. 1 l-2l relate primarily to Venetian blind installations having an alternative blind, which is designated as a whole by BB. FIGS. ll, l2, l4 and I9 show the blind nested within the inclined windowopening, and FIG.15 shows the blind BB mounted at the inclined window-opening without being nested therein. The constructions shown in FIGS. ll-Zl, and their functioning, are analogous to the constructions and their functioning that have already been described so much so that it will be sufficient to briefly describe and explain what is shown in FIGS. lll2l and point out the significant differences from what has already been described and explained.

In FIGS. 11, l2, l4 and 119 the blind BB is nested in the window opening 105, the general plane of which inclines similarly to the inclination of the wall I103. The 15 inclination of the wall I03 is shown in FIG. 12. The blind BB is mounted on installation brackets in the same manner as blind B. The blind BB, which is shown closed in FIG. 11 and open in FIGS. l2, l4, l5 and 19, has three string ladders I18 (FIG. II). In FIG. II the bottom bar is shown elevated somewhat. Lift cords (not shown) are conventionally associated with the two end-ladders 118, the same as with the two ladders 18 shown in FIG. I. No lift cord is associated with the center ladder I18 but, in alignment with the center ladder 118, the slats 117 are slotted transversely as for lift cords; and the bottom bar 1140 is similarly slotted in alignment with the center ladder I18. Closely adjacent to their ends the blind-slats IE7 and the bottom bar I40 are slotted the same as their slotting that is in alignment with the center ladder I18; see the end-adjacent transverse slots l17t and 14th.

The blind BB is mounted in the same manner as the blind B but on installation brackets which are adapted to have tensioned wires fastened thereto. Brackets, one right and one left, such as the bracket I60 shown in FIGS. 12 and 15 (see also FIGS. 13 and 119) are suitable. The bracket is in two parts, a body 1611 and a keeper 162, the keeper being removable and replaceable.

The body 161 of the installation bracket (FIG. 13) is a one-piece sheet-steel stamping which is boxlike; it has a vertical wall 161a (attachable to a window jamb), a top wall 16lb (attachable to the top face of a window opening), a backwall l6lc (attachable to the face of a wall adjacent to a window opening), and a bottom wall 161d (on which the end of the head of the blind rests). The walls l6la, 1161b and 161C are amply provided with fastener-receiving holes; and suitable fasten ers will be inserted through some of these holes to attach the bracket to the building structure.

A one-piece sheet-metal stamping constitutes the keeper 162. This has an upper formation 162a which hooks into the rectangular opening r (FIGS. 13 and 19) in the front end of the top wall l6lb. The keeper 162 also has an inturned lip 16219 at the bottom which resiliently snaps under the front end of the bottom wall 161d, the lip l62b having an upstruck latch (not shown) which snaps into the rectangular opening r and engages behind the front edge of that opening. The rectangular opening s and the circular opening v afford entry of a screw driver for driving mounting screws through openings in the top wall 1611b. The back wall 161a is stamped with a forwardly-extending protuberance p which is spaced from the keeper 162 by the amount needed for the head of the blind but which 1 1 leaves space for screw heads between the head of the blind and the back wall 161a. The bottom wall 161d is provided with a keyhole slot k; this receives the top end of the wire for tensioning, as will be explained. The bracket 160 is suitable for mounting the blind B of FIGS. 1 and 2, but the keyhole slot k will be idle in the case of blind B.

In connection with blind BB three forms of adjustable anchors are shown for anchoring the bottom end of a tensioned wire to the building structure, these adjustable anchors being usable also in connection with the blind B of FIGS. 1 and 2. The anchor that is designated as a whole by 80 in FIGS. 12, 14 and 19 is a 3-piece anchor that is especially adapted for anchoring the bottom end of a tensioned wire to the window sill, the anchors being omitted in FIG. 11 because of the small scale of that figure. The anchor 81 (FIGS. 15 and 16) and the anchor 82 (FIGS. 17 and 18) are especially adapted for anchoring the bottom end of a tensioned wire when the blind is mounted at an inclined window opening without being nested therein.

The anchor 80, which. is preferably made of steel, is adjustable by moving one part of the anchor relative to another part. This anchor has an axially-pierced threaded-stem 80a which is threaded through a heavy plate 80b and is axially adjustable with respect thereto. The upper end 800 of the stem is square in cross section to enable it to be appropriately engaged with pliers or a small wrench for rotating the stem and thereby shifting the stem lengthwise of itself. A lock nut 80d is used to lock the stem 80a in adjusted position. The window sill 107 is provided with a bore 107b into which the stem 80a telescopes. The plate 80b is attached to the window' sill by suitable fasteners, indicated diagrammatically by screws 165,165 in FIG. 12.

A wire 150 for tensioning, corresponding to the heretofore described wire 50' and of appropriate length, prepared with a top-end abutment 150a and a bottomend abutment 150d. These abutments are crimped copper sleeves as already described. Before the second abutment is put on, the wire is passed through the axial bore in the threaded stem 80a which, if desired, may be separated from the plate 80b at this stage. Abutments 150a and 150d are alike and are the same as each of the abutments 50a and 500', though the end of the wire is shown arranged somewhat differently in connection with abutments 150a and 150d. With the abutmentforming sleeve telescoped onto the wire, the end of the wire is bent back upon itself and the sleeve retracted over the bent back end. The sleeve is then firmly crimped, leaving a small wire loop w protruding from the crimped sleeve. This loop guards against slippage of the abutment when the wire is tensioned.

Three of the wires 150 are prepared for the blind BB. Two of these wires are passed through the tiers of holes that are closely adjacent to the ends of the slats in the ladder-and-slat assembly of the blind BB; see the holes 117t and the holes 1401, all of which are in the form of transverse slots. The third wire 150 is passed through the tier of holes that is associated with the center ladder 118 that is shown in FIG. 11. t

The head of the blind BB is provided, halfway between its ends, with a center tilt-rod cradle 126 (FIG. which is the same as the cradle 26 in FIG. 3. There is no lift cord at the center of the blind BB, though there is a ladder 118 at the center. The top end of the center wire 150 is passed upwardly through the hole 123a (FIG. 21 in the bottom of the head channel 123,

through the registering hole, 12h (FIG. 20) in the base of the center cradle 126, and then secured to the head in the manner indicated in FIGS. 20 and 21. After the top abutment 150a has been passed upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 20, a split sheet-metal ferrule f of the shape shown is applied to the wire beneath the abutment 150a and the wire pulled down to the position shown in FIG. 21. The ferrule f nests in the hole 126h but is unable to pass through it. This secures the upper end of the center wire 150 to the head of the blind as is seen in FIG. 21.

Preparatory to placingthe head of the blind BB on the two installation brackets, the tops of the end-wires 150 are connected to the installation brackets by passing the abutments 150a through the large ends of the keyhole slots k (FIG. 13) and then shifting the wires to the small ends of the slots. The head 116' of the blind BB is then placed on the installation brackets (see FIG. 19), the end of the head that is on each bracket being substantially against the adjacent wire-attached abutment 150a and thereby blocking shifting of the wire toward the large end of the keyhole slot k (see also FIG. 13). Thus disengagement of the wires 150 from the installation brackets is prevented so long as the head of the blind is in place on the installation brackets.

Once the head of the blind has been installed on the installation brackets 160 of FIGS. 11, 12 and 19 with the top of the center wire 150 connected to the head and with the tops of the two end-wires 150 connected to the installation bracketsthe ladder-and-slat assembly of the blind is swung into an inclined plane corresponding to the general plane of the window opening and each of the three wires 150 then connected at the bottom to the window sill 107 by an adjustable anchor 80, the anchor then being adjusted to appropriately tension the wire. Because of the small scale of FIG. 11, the three anchors for the bottom ends of the three wires 150 are omitted.

In FIG. 15 the blind BB is considered to have the same dimensions as in FIGS. ll, l2, l4 and 19, but the window opening 205 in the inclined wall 203 is considered to be somewhat smaller than the window opening 105. In FIG. 15 the blind is mounted at the window opening without being nested therein. The bottom end of each wire 150 is attached to the building structure by an anchor 81 which is an L-shaped bracket of stamped sheet-steel, the wire 150 being passed through one of the three holes 81a (see also FIG. 16) before the bottom abutment 150d is applied to the wire 150. The anchor or bracket 81 is attached to the face of the inclined wall 203 by a suitable fastener, shown diagrammatically as a screw 81b. This fastener passes through the slot 810 in the lower leg of the bracket, whereby this anchor is adjustable as a whole to tension the wire 150 and adjust the tension thereof. Once the anchor 81 has been correctly adjusted, the fastener 81b is tightened securely and, if desired, screws or other fasteners inserted through one or both holes 81d to guard against slippage of the anchor.

The three holes 81a in the anchor 81 provide for mounting of the blind with the bottom bar a little closer or a little farther from the face of the wall 203. It is likewise with the anchor 82, which is shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 and which may be substituted for anchor 81 and be attached and adjusted in the same man ner. Like the anchor 81, the anchor 82 is an L-shaped bracket of stamped sheet-steel with a fastenerreceiving slot (82c) in the lower leg of the bracket. In the upper leg of the bracket 82 there is a keyhole slot composed of a large end 82a and an elongated narrowslot portion 82b. This keyhole slot enables the wire 150 to be engaged with the anchor 82 after the bottom abutment 150d has been applied to the wire. The wire 150 can be placed at any desired point along the narrow-slot portion 82b preparatory to tensioning the wire byadjusting the anchor 82 downwardly. A depressed formation 82f guards against fortuitous disengagement of the wire from the adjusted anchor 82. Two holes 82d provide for the insertion of one or two additional fasteners after the anchor has been adjusted, to guard against slippage of the anchor.

in the. blind BB the center wire 150 is masked by the center ladder l 18 when the blind is in lowered position.

The two end-wires 150 are closely adjacent to the window jambs in H6. 11 and, therefore, are relatively inconspicuous. When the blind BB is small enough to not need the center wire 150, the center wire is normally omitted. When the center ladder H8 is not needed, that too is normally omitted. The ladder-and-slat assembly of the blind is observed as the wires (50 or 150) are tensioned. Preferably, the wires are given only as much tension as is required to eliminate significant sag of the ladder-and-slot assembly from the inclined plane that the wires are adapted to impart to the ladder-andslat assembly.

I claim:

1. A Venetian blind installation in which (a) the Venetian blind has a head and a ladder-and-slat assembly that depends from the head, (b) tensioned wires which are anchored top and bottom extend throughout the height of the ladder-and-slat assembly, and (c) the tensioned wires are inclined and dispose the ladder-andslat assembly in an inclined plane wherein the improvement comprises: the tensioned wires are'at least three in number, the tensioned wires include two end wires and an intervening wire,

the end wires are toward the opposite ends of the slats and the intervening wire is remote from the ends of the slats,

these tensioned wires extend upwardly through individual tiers of holes in the slats, each end wire, after passing upwardly through the tier of holes in the slats, terminate substantially straight ahead at a location which is generally in prolongation of the tier of holes in the slats,

the ladder-and-slat assembly includes end ladders and at least one intervening ladder,

and an intervening ladder is aligned front to rear with said intervening tensioned wire.

2. A Venetian blind installation as in claim 1 in which the head of the blind is mounted on installation brackets, and wherein the improvement additionally comprises:

the end wires, after passing upwardly through the slats, terminate at and are fastened to the installation brackets.

3. A Venetian blind installation as in claim 2 wherein the improvement additionally comprises:

the end wires are fastened to the installation brackets by quick-attachable connections.

4. A Venetian blind installation as in claim 2 in which the head is mountable on and demountable from the installation brackets, and wherein the improvement additionally comprises:

the end wires are fastened to the installation brackets by quick-detachable connections,

5 and the head, when mounted on the installation brackets, prevents detachment of the end wires from the installation brackets.

5. A Venetian blind installation as in claim 1 wherein the improvement additionally comprises:

said intervening tensioned wire, after passing upwardly through the slats, enters the head of the blind and is anchored on the interior of the head.

6. A Venetian blind installation as in claim 1 in which the head includes at least one tilt-rod cradle, and wherein the improvement additionally comprises:

the upper end of said intervening wire is anchored to the tilt-rod cradle.

7. A Venetian blind installation as in claim 1 in which the ladder-and-slat assembly includes a bottom bar that serves as the lowermost slat and is of the same length as the next higher slat, and wherein the improvemen additionally comprises: I

the body of the bottom bar is provided with holes through which the end wires and said intervening wire pass.

8. A Venetian blind installation in which (a) the Venetian blind has a head and a ladder-and-slat assembly that depends from the head, (b) there are installation brackets at the opposite ends of the head, (c) the head is mountable on and demountable from the installation brackets,

(d) tensioned wires which are anchored top and bottom extend throughout the height of the ladderand-slat assembly, and

(e) the tensioned wires are inclined and dispose the ladder-and-slat assembly in an inclined plane wherein the improvement comprises:

the tensioned wires include at least two wires which are end wires that are toward the opposite ends of the slats,

these end wires extend upwardly through individual tiers of holes in the slats,

these end wires, after passing upwardly through the slats, are attached to the installation brackets by quick-detachable connections,

and the head, when mounted on the installation brackets, prevents detachment of these end wires from the installation brackets.

9. A Venetian blind installation as in claim 8 wherein the improvement additionally comprises:

the quick-detachable connection for each of the end wires includes a slot in the installation bracket that receives the wire sidewise and an abutment on the wire which prevents the wire from being pulled longitudinally through the slot,

and the head of the blind, when mounted on the installation bracket, blocks reverse sidewise movement of the wire that would disengage the wire fromthe installation bracket.

10. A Venetian blind installation as in claim 9 0 wherein the improvement additionally comprises:

the slot which receives the wire sidewise is the narrow portion of a key-hole slot,

and the wide portion of the key-hole slot receives the wire-attached abutment by movement of the wire longitudinally of itself, preparatory to moving the wire sidewise into the narrow portion of the keyhole slot. 

1. A Venetian blind installation in which (a) the Venetian blind has a head and a ladder-and-slat assembly that depends from the head, (b) tensioned wires which are anchored top and bottom extend throughout the height of the ladder-and-slat assembly, and (c) the tensioned wires are inclined and dispose the ladder-andslat assembly in an inclined plane - wherein the improvement comprises: the tensioned wires are at least three in number, the tensioned wires include two end wires and an intervening wire, the end wires are toward the opposite ends of the slats and the intervening wire is remote from the ends of the slats, these tensioned wires extend upwardly through individual tiers of holes in the slats, each end wire, after passing upwardly through the tier of holes in the slats, terminate substantially straight ahead at a location which is generally in prolongation of the tier of holes in the slats, the ladder-and-slat assembly includes end ladders and at least one intervening ladder, and an intervening ladder is aligned front to rear with said intervening tensioned wire.
 2. A Venetian blind installation as in claim 1 in which the head of the blind is mounted on installation brackets, and wherein the improvement additionally comprises: the end wires, after passing upwardly through the slats, terminate at and are fastened to the installation brackets.
 3. A Venetian blind installation as in claim 2 wherein the improvement additionally comprises: the end wires are fastened to the installation brackets by quick-attachable connections.
 4. A Venetian blind installation as in claim 2 in which the head is mountable on and demountable from the installation brackets, and wherein the improvement additionally comprises: the end wires are fastened to the installation brackets by quick-detachable connections, and the head, when mounted on the installation brackets, prevents detachment of the end wires from the installation brackets.
 5. A Venetian blind installation as in claim 1 wherein the improvement additionally comprises: said intervening tensioned wire, after passing upwardly through the slats, enters the head of the blind and is anchored on the interior of the head.
 6. A Venetian blind installation as in claim 1 in which the head includes at least one tilt-rod cradle, and wherein the improvement additionally comprises: the upper end of said intervening wire is anchored to the tilt-rod cradle.
 7. A Venetian blind installation as in claim 1 in which the ladder-and-slat assembly includes a bottom bar that serves as the lowermost slat and is of the same length as the next higher slat, and wherein the improvement additionally comprises: the body of the bottom bar is provided with holes through which the end wires and said interveniNg wire pass.
 8. A Venetian blind installation in which (a) the Venetian blind has a head and a ladder-and-slat assembly that depends from the head, (b) there are installation brackets at the opposite ends of the head, (c) the head is mountable on and demountable from the installation brackets, (d) tensioned wires which are anchored top and bottom extend throughout the height of the ladder-and-slat assembly, and (e) the tensioned wires are inclined and dispose the ladder-and-slat assembly in an inclined plane - wherein the improvement comprises: the tensioned wires include at least two wires which are end wires that are toward the opposite ends of the slats, these end wires extend upwardly through individual tiers of holes in the slats, these end wires, after passing upwardly through the slats, are attached to the installation brackets by quick-detachable connections, and the head, when mounted on the installation brackets, prevents detachment of these end wires from the installation brackets.
 9. A Venetian blind installation as in claim 8 wherein the improvement additionally comprises: the quick-detachable connection for each of the end wires includes a slot in the installation bracket that receives the wire sidewise and an abutment on the wire which prevents the wire from being pulled longitudinally through the slot, and the head of the blind, when mounted on the installation bracket, blocks reverse sidewise movement of the wire that would disengage the wire from the installation bracket.
 10. A Venetian blind installation as in claim 9 wherein the improvement additionally comprises: the slot which receives the wire sidewise is the narrow portion of a key-hole slot, and the wide portion of the key-hole slot receives the wire-attached abutment by movement of the wire longitudinally of itself, preparatory to moving the wire sidewise into the narrow portion of the key-hole slot. 